Machine for preparing soles



F. C. FIX.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING SOLES.

APPucAIloN men SEPT. 26, |916.

1 ,31 3, 682. 4 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

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F. C. FIX.

MACHINE FOR PHEPAHING SOLES.

APPLICATION mio sEPT.26.19|a.

1,318,682. y Patented Aug.19,1919,

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UNTTE sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FRANK C. FIX, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING- SOLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. FIX, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Preparing Soles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, -like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved machine for preparing and reinforcing soles used in the manufacture of boots and shoes, wherein a sewing rib is formed and reinforced with canvas or the like textile covering. In the manufacture of welt boots and shoes, as well as in making turn shoes, it is necessary to provide a sewing rib or lip around the marginal portion of the insole in welt shoes and the sole in turn shoes, such rib being frequently strengthened or reinforced by a canvas covering. Said reinforcing is particularly useful in the making of welt insoles, which are known in the trade as Gem insoles, enabling a strong construction with relatively thin and inexpensive leather, the canvas backing strengthening the rib and the insole sufficiently to hold the inseam. It is an object of my present machine to improve and simplify the strengthening of such sewing rib, particularly in the case of welt Shoes, by a simple, economical, and efficient machine which will vbeat the reinforcing` on each side of the rib and which will also trim the surplus canvas or reinforcing material simultaneously with the beating. A further feature of the invention is the provision of adjustable means which will impart any desired tension to the beating or pounding devices which work; adjustable trimming knives; adjust* able edge guide or guard and additional details of construction which will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a machine embodying the invention in preferred form;

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a front view.

In order to simplify the construction and to save expense, I have designed the machine of the drawings as a small bench machine comprising a base l suitably mounted on legs or supports 2, 2, and having at' one end a bracket 3 for the yielding work support, and at the other end an upstanding -portion 4i, branching into arms 5 and 6 carrying bearings for the main drive shaft 7. Fast and loose pulleys 8 and 9 are mounted on one end of the shaft 7 to be belted to any suitable source of power. The shaft 7 carries an eccentric 10 and strap 11, which imparts reciprocatory movement to a rod 12 which slides through a pivoted block 13 carried on an arm 14 projecting from the portion 6. The reciprocating movement given the arm 12 is for the purpose of actuating the hammers, as will be described. A worm gear 1G is also `carried by and keyed to the shaft 7, which is in position to rotate a gea-r wheel 17 secured to a shaft 18 which operates the feeding mechanism. Suitable bearings for the shaft 18 are provided at 19 in the upstanding portion 4 and in the standard 20 arranged adjacent the work supporting bracket 3 at thc forward end of the machine. A collar 21 bearing against the hub 22 of the gear 17 aids in holding thev latter in proper position. At the forward end of the shaft 18 I provide a feed wheel 23, removably secured to the end of the shaft by its hub 124 and a set screw 125. This feed wheel is preferably serrated or corrugated on its edge and may be beveled if desired, for different classes and grades of work, said feed wheel eoperating with a worktable 24, having a central stem 25 extending downwardly within the cored center in the work supporting bracket 3 to receive a yielding support from a coiled spring 26 encircling the reduced portion 27 of the lower part of said stem, which stem has its extreme outer end threaded to receive a head 28 adapted. te le@ attached t0. a, fat

treadle to depress the work support against the tension of the spring 26 when the work is inserted in or removed from the machine.

To constitute a suitable bearing for the spring 26, I provide a hollow sleeve 29 encircling the stem 25 and threaded into a -correspondingly tapped recess through the base 1 and cored lower portion of the work supporting bracket 3, said sleeve having a Y 23 and the construction just described will permit such rotation. In order to positively rotate the work support 24, I arrange said support to be geared to the shaft 18 while 'permitting the yielding movement to and 'from the feed wheel 23 just described. For

vthis purpose a beveled wheel 33 having a cored center of sufficiently greater diameter 'than' the stem 25 Vto permit the sleeve 34 to fit over the stem and loosely therethrough,

` is supplied, said sleeve havinga topV plate 35 bearing upon the beveled gear 33 to hold it in place and receiving a set screw 36 threaded through a tapped Yrecess in one side of the bracket13, the cored center of said bracket being of appropriate diameter to receive the sleeve 34. Said gear wheel 33 has a pair of bored holes therethrough in which diametrically opposite studs 37 and 38, extending 'downwardly from the work support 24, are loosely fitted, so that rotation of the gear wheel 33 will similarly rotate the worktable 24, while permitting its vertical movement through depression of the stem 25 or the varying thicknesses in the work and upward pressure of the spring 26. I connect the gear wheel33 to the shaft 18 by a correspondingly beveled gear 40 mounted on a shaft 41 having bearings at 50 through the support 2O and at 51 on an auxiliary bracket 52 bolted to the base 1, said shaft 41 carrying a spare gear 53 arranged to mesh with a gear 54 secured to thev shaft 18. As the feed wheel 23, and work support 24 are of different diameters and it is desired to have said support and feed wheel rotate in unison at the point of contact of said feed wheel 23, the gears 54, 53, 40 and 33 are of appropriate diameters to accomplish this result.

The support 20 has itsV upper portion forked and extended forwardly as indicated at 55 and 56, said forked arms receiving a carrier 57 between them and being pivotally supported. by conically threaded pivots 58 and 59 fitting in diametrically opposite recesses in the carrier 57 and adjustable by being threaded through said arms 55 and 56 respectively. Lock nuts 60 and 61 hold these ivots where thus adjusted. This carrier 573 has a pair of studs 62 and 63, extending from its upper end portion, the stud 62 being pivotally connected by the portion 64 of the rod 65. A right and left threaded turnbuckle 66 adjustably connects said rod 65 with the corresponding rod 67 constituting a link from said stud 62 to the lever 68. This lever is pivoted at 69 to the standard 20 and carries on its outer end a hammer 70, which is adapted to beat the reinforcing material against the outer side of the rib and the marginal edge or feather of the insole. This hammer lever 'has'its inner end pivoted at 71 to the member 67 of the link and the adjustment of the turnbuckle 66 provides a considerable range in the corresponding movement of the hammer 70. Y

To the stud 63 is pivotally connected the portion 72 of a rod 73, which rod'is connected by the turnbuckle 74 to the rod 12, Vand thus the entire carrier 57 is oscillated by the reciprocations of said rod 12 and the eccentric 10. l Y

The inner hammer 75, which is adapted to beat upon the 'inner portion of the rib and adjacent parts of the sole, is held by the carrier 57, said carrier being bored centrally toreceive the stem76 of said hammer, the same being secured to a collar 77 by a set screw-7 8, bearing on, the top4 of thecarrier 57. As it may be desirable to have provision for a slight yielding of the hammer 7 5,a spring 79 and a bearing member 80 are provided, exerting tension on the collar 77, but permitting an upward yield of the stem and collar against the tension of the spring 79. The lower part of the hammer 75 is beveled or curved substantially as shown in Fig. 1, vand if desired, a different form of hammer can be readily substituted for that illustrated in the drawings. The adjustment of the right and left handed turnbuckle 74 varies the angle of the hammer 75 with relation to the work, permitting a considerable inclination to th-e resulting reinforced rib, it usually being desirable to form such rib with a pronounced inward inclination or inclination toward the center of the insole.

Rotation of the main shaft 7 oscillates the 20, is arranged to facilitate the manipulation of the insole by the operator. I provide a cutting device to trim the edge of the reinforcing canvas, or other textile material, after the same has been operated upon by the beating mechanism 70 and 75. Such cutter, is also adjustable and consists in a knife 85 adjustably mounted in a block 86 carried at one side of the feeding wheel and secured to a member 87 held by bolts 88, 88, to one side of the standard 20, said knife extending downwardly with its cutting edge coperating with the work support 24. The block 86 is mounted 0n an eccentric 90 in the member 87.

As the work support and stem are rotated, it is desired to hold the support 29 for the spring 26 from rotation, and for this purpose I provide a series of apertures 91 in the thumb nut 30, which apertures are entered by a prong 92 carried by a spring rod 93 secured at 94 under the base 1. A strut 95, to bear on the rod 93, holds the prong 92 in position but permits its ready removal for vrotation or adjustment of the thumb nut 30.

The operation of the machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing description. The insole having a rib cut or formed thereon, receives the canvas reinforcing which is usually secured by adhesive to the surface of the insole, and may be a covering for the entire width of the insole or may be simply a strip of canvas adapted to reinforce each side of the rib and onlv the adjacent portions of the insole at the base of the rib. The operator presses the foot treadle to draw down the work support 24 and fits the insole with the rib between the hammers 70 and 75 on the machine, releasing the'foot treadle and permitting the spring 26 to hold the work yieldingly against the feed wheel 22. The turnbuckles 74 and 66 may have been first adjusted to secure the desired angle of rib which the particular work in hand may call for and the knife 85 and guard or guide 81 also be adjusted. thrown into operation just before the insole is applied, or immediately thereafter, and the hammers 70 and 75 at once act to beat the reinforcing material firmly, snugly and tightly about the rib on the insole throughout its entire length as the insole is fed through the machine by the rotation of the feed wheel 23, and work support 24, the operator simply guiding the insole during this process. Simultaneously with the beating and shaping of the reinforced rib, the knife trims the canvas at any desired distance from the rib, and the insole emerges from the machine completed and ready for incorporation into the shoe.

While I have described the machine as operating upon an insole for welt shoes, which is its greatest ield of usefulness, it will be The machine may bel appreciated that its capacity is not thus limited, but may be utilized for reinforcing ribs for 'turn shoes as well as welt insoles.

Claims:

1. A machine of the class described, comprising feeding means, and a plurality of heating devices adapted to conform a reinforcing material on each side of the sewing rib of an insole, means to adjust one of said beating' devices at an angle to the rib, and means to trim the surplus reinforcing material from the insole.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising feeding means and a plurality of beating devices adapted to be oscillated to conform reinforcing material in a predetermined angle on each side of the sewing rib of an insole.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising feeding means and a plurality of beating devices adapted to be oscillated to conform reinforcing material in a predetermined angle on each side of the sewing rib of an insole, in combination with an adjustablv held trimming knife to cut the surplus reinforcing material from the insole.

4. A machine of the class described, comprising feeding means and a plurality of beating devices, said devices consisting in pivoted hammers, means to actuate said hammers by oscillating them upon their respective pivots, the feeding means automatically holding and moving an insole adjacent the hammers to beat reinforcing'material about both sides of an insole rib and on the insole itself, in combination with au adjustable guide for the insole and a stationary trimming knife.

5. A combined reinforcing and trimming machine, adapted to apply textile material on each side of the sewing rib of an insole and to trim the surplus textile material therefrom after the beating operation, comprising a yielding work support coperating with a. feeding wheel` means to rotate both feed. wheel and Work support in unison, beating mechanism comprising a `vieldingly supported hammer to operate on the inner side of the sewing rib, a rigidly pivoted hammer to operate on the outside of the sewing rib, means to adjust said hammers to a predetermined angle, and mechanism to operate said hammers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tivo subscribing witnesses.

FRANK C. FIX. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN B. WrAsHBURN, GUsTAvn G. WAGNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

